The Mad Doctor of London
A Great Mouse Detective Pastiche

by E. Grimes
(With special thanks to Diane Tran)

Rated PG-13 (15)

© 2004 by E. Grimes. No part of this pastiche (including characters) may be used in any way without permission.

Original character of Inspector Vole ©1958 by the Estate of Eve Titus; Pastiched Character © 2000
by Diane Tran. My thanks to Diane for permission to use the character and for her kind assistance.

In Part IX: Unable to help Basil for the time being, Dr. Dawson visits Lucy McNab, now recovered from
her terrifying experience with Von Seyss. Finding out that Lucy's attacker spoke with a Germanic accent
at the end, Dawson now is certain that the Austrian doctor is the culprit. He finally convinces the prostitute
that Von Seyss, not Basil, is the person who drugged her.

While hurrying back to Scotland Yard, Dawson meets Josh, the barkeep of the Thistle 'n' Rose. To the
doctor's great relief and astonishment, he hears that Von Seyss---disguised as Basil---has again visited
the tavern, only to leave in fear on hearing the detective is in gaol. Armed with this information, Dawson
rushes to the Yard, with Josh in tow.

In the meantime, Inspector Vole has taken Basil from his cell in order to discuss the matter of Von Seyss.
During his brief yet harrowing time in gaol, the detective has been reacquainted with a striking figure from
an earlier case: the famous international jewel thief, Arsène Lupine. Yet a far more pleasant surprise comes
when Dawson and Josh arrive with their news; and in face of what seems to be strong evidence of Basil's
innocence, the inspector gladly sets him free.

By this time, Dr. Von Seyss is holed up in his flat, knowing that justice will quickly pursue him. He
feels hat he must now take stern measures against his "experimental" victims, seeing that some may
live to testify against him. But seeing as well his strong resemblance to Basil of Baker Street, he plans
to take even sterner measures against the detective...

Meanwhile, however, a 'ghost' from the doctor's past is about to catch up with him: Anna Heinstoffer,
anxious despite all to find Von Seyss, decides to leave the Harwickes. Fearful of losing her infant son
and knowing her cruel "lover" will not want him, Anna tearfully leaves the baby with the sleeping farm
couple and sets out for the city.

Now safely back at Lower Baker Street, Basil enjoys his freedom with reservations---knowing that the
peace will not last long...

Part X:
The Hunt Begins Again

"It's every man's business to see justice
done."
~~~Sherlock Holmes, The Crooked Man
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

DAWSON FULLY EXPECTED his friend to sleep late the following morning after the dreadful business
of the previous night; and so he was quite surprised when he came to breakfast to find Basil already at table.

"I smelled Mrs. Judson's magnificent cheese soufflé," the detective explained with a smile, "and I'm most
famished! Though it's a singular treat to find it at breakfast, I must say."

" 'Tis the least you deserve after what you've been through, you poor fellow!" sympathised the housekeeper.
Basil chuckled.

"Nonsense, Mrs. Judson," he replied. "I have survived far worse than that. I at least had Monsieur Lupine
to keep me company," added Basil with a wry grin.

Mrs. Judson shook her head. "Still, it's well that you're home, Mr. Basil, to enjoy a decent meal. I'm quite
certain the prison food isn't fit for swine!"

"Then they must never take you on as cook, Mrs. Judson," Dawson answered, beaming as the housekeeper
set down the luscious golden-brown mass before them. "Word of your fine meals would surely tempt all of
London to a life of crime!"

"Oh, get along with you, Doctor!" Mrs. Judson exclaimed, laughing and dishing out the soufflé. The two men
tucked in heartily, all troubles aside for a few moments.

"We shall need our strength today, Dawson," Basil sighed over his second helping. The kindly doctor nodded,
his mouth full. Indeed, the search for Dr. Von Seyss must now be more relentless than ever; for the time being,
the detective and his friend would have to ponder over the events of the last several days. But Basil's words
were a portent of more than renewed case-work, for he sensed strongly that this day would be far from a
quiet one.

He had sensed rightly. Before the day was out, the flat was busy with visitors, the first of whom was
Inspector Vole himself. He arrived just as the detective and his associate were finishing breakfast.

"That wouldn't be your famous cheese soufflé I happen to smell, Mrs. Judson?" he said with a smile as the
plump housekeeper invited him inside.

"Oh, yes---it surely is!" Mrs. Judson replied proudly. "I baked it special for this morning; might I set you a
place, Inspector?"

"Thank you kindly, Mrs. Judson, but I've already eaten. Although..." His keen eyes found themselves studying
the soufflé, indeed a novelty at that time of day; but he finally shook his head. "I shall be happy to sample your
excellent cooking another time, if I may. For now, I've business with your tenants that we hadn't quite covered
last evening..."

As the three men sat by the hearth, Vole questioned Dr. Dawson about the previous night's strange events.

"Your friend the barkeep had seen that odd fellow before, Dr. Dawson? Dressed the same way, like our
friend Mr. Basil here?"

Dawson nodded. "In fact, he told us---" he looked over at Basil uncertainly, since the inspector had not yet
been told of Von Seyss' first appearance at the Thistle 'n' Rose. Basil nodded encouragingly, and the doctor
continued.

"Josh told us, a few mornings ago, that just the previous night Basil's 'twin' was seen at the pub. He had
ordered cognac, which everyone thought strange; before long, Percy Braithwaite bedeviled him and a
brawl broke out between the two. Braithwaite was ejected from the pub, after giving the other fellow
a sound blow to the face."

"And that," put in Basil, "was the last Braithwaite was seen alive. It was the very next morning, as
Dawson and I were making our rounds, that Josh came to tell us of Braithwaite's death. Of course,
he seemed quite surprised to hear that I had not been in the pub, and that my face was unmarked---
that is, until my ill-timed meeting with the unfortunate Miss Lucy."

"She has meanwhile been released from hospital," Vole replied, "having made a statement of what she
remembers, but taking great care to absolve you of any further blame."

"I won't say I'm not relieved," Basil answered solemnly, "but her attacker's cruel deception will further
flame the embers of the justice I hope to serve him."

"So you're quite certain that Dr. Von Seyss has assumed your own identity in order to commit his crimes?"

"Most assuredly. You have seen his picture in the newspapers, Vole, and surely have noticed how his frame
and features strongly resemble my own. That mysterious peddler who followed me for some days was similar
as well."

"Not to mention, as you told me, that during that time there were no reports of any other attacks," observed
the inspector. "Then the same madness started again after that. But why would he choose to take on your
appearance, Mr. Basil?"

Basil shook his head with a sad chuckle, and Dawson took up the thread from there. "Isn't it obvious,
Inspector? He must know of how well known and trusted Basil is in London, in the East End especially,"
he said darkly. "Von Seyss has taken the cruellest advantage of my friend's reputation."

"Perhaps to discredit Mr. Basil as well?"

"We had indeed thought so at first, and it certainly might have appeared so," Dawson concluded. "But
since Von Seyss was so frightened to find out Basil was in prison, that no longer seems likely. He seems
to prefer that Basil remain free on the streets; for what reason, I can't suppose... but then, there seems to
be no sound reason behind any of the things this madman has done."

"We'll find the reason---once we find Von Seyss," Vole said grimly, as he rose to leave. "Now, if you'll
excuse me, gentlemen, I'm sure we've all our work to do."

"Quite. However, as to 'reasons', Vole," Basil asked with a grin, "I've been most curious as to why our
old friend Arsène Lupine refers to you as 'Uncle'?"

The inspector snorted. "It's his little nickname for me from the first time we met---officially," he replied
in disgust. "Lupine uses it merely to toy with me---something the arrogant blackguard is most fond of
doing."

"Of course. And might that remind you of a certain detective friend of yours?" Basil couldn't resist joking.

Vole shot him a dubious look, but spoke pleasantly as the housekeeper helped him with his hat and coat.
"Many thanks, Mrs. Judson. Good day, all," he called as he stepped out. "And good hunting, gentlemen."

After the inspector had gone, Basil lit a fresh pipe, then stood chuckling as he recalled Vole's less than
friendly exchange with Lupine, and could imagine his disgust at being christened "Uncle" by the jewel
thief.

"I've a feeling, Dawson," he said with a sly grin, "that we shan't be hearing the last of our old friend Monsieur
Lupine."

"I'm sure it promises to be a case far more pleasant than this," Dawson sighed. There were times when their
work left him quite weary in spirit, and this was certainly one such time.

"I must agree with you in that instance, old friend," Basil replied grimly. "I'm always most grateful to have
casework to keep my mind entertained; and yet, to be done with the villain Von Seyss and his murderous
exploits shall be a welcome end indeed..."

The footfalls that next reached Basil's door would soon add another piece to the puzzle.

"Why, it's John and Bess Harwicke!" exclaimed Mrs. Judson, seeing them pass by the window. The
housekeeper was quite friendly with the farm couple, buying much of her eggs, butter and other goods
from them. They had even taken tea together on occassion.

"John, Bess!" she called cheerfully as she quickly opened the door. "What a nice surprise---" but both
her words and her smile faded at sight of the sad anxiety in the Harwickes' faces.

To add to the confusion, Bess was holding a suspiciously swaddled bundle in her arms...a baby??
But surely they could not have had more children after their beloved Henry died?

"Eh...Bess?" stammered Mrs. Judson, as Basil and Dawson stood looking on curiously. "But what's
the matter, my dear...and what have you there?"

"I understand they call it an infant, Mrs. Judson," the detective put in quietly. "But pray show our friends in."

The housekeeper hastily apologized and brought the Harwickes to the sitting room. Both the Harwickes
seemed unable (or unwilling) to speak at first, but accepted the offer of tea.

"Ah, Mary...if only it were a nice surprise," Bess finally said, her voice heavy with sorrow. "But we're
afraid it isn't... "

This time," added John, "Bess and I've come in need of your Mr. Basil there, and the good doctor...
on 'fficial bus'ness, as the gentry are fond o' sayin'."

"As I judged by your faces, you're now indeed our customers," Basil said mildly. "And how might we
be of service to you, Mr. and Mrs. Harwicke? I shall at least begin our consultation, Mr. Harwicke,
by asking about the rather lively object your good wife is holding..."

"The babe? He's not our own.... 't' least, not by law," Mr. Harwicke replied.

"He...he's been left for us to care for..." finished Bess, casting a cautious glance at her husband. It was
all too obvious the kind farm couple was reluctant to tell the whole story.

"Pray continue, Mrs. Harwicke," Basil urged.

Bess looked at her husband, who nodded solemnly. "They're our friends, Bess. And Mr. Basil isn't
like the police here..."

Relieved, Bess went on. "A young girl came to us nearly two months ago---sick and heavy with child.
We took her into our home, and there she had her baby...little Henry here."

"But...why didn't you notify the police?" asked Dawson. "At least, put her in a proper hospital..."

John snorted. "Not a bloomin' thing proper about a hospital---unless you're bad hurt, bleedin' t' death,
something o' the fashion. That unhappy lass needed to be in homely quarters, with carin' people to see
t' her."

Bess nodded. "And the poor thing...she's simple-minded, and a foreigner. They'd have treated her badly,
and taken her baby away, too! We gave her a loving home, a warm bed and good food. She was much
better off."

"But," asked Mrs. Judson---feeling her friendship with the Harwickes allowed her to be a part of the
conversation---"where is the mother now?"

"T'is why the wife an' I've come to see you all," John answered with a heavy sigh. "She left us b'fore dawn;
so we've come to ask Mr. Basil an' Dr. Dawson there to find her."

The mouse detective frowned; he was far from oblivious to the Harwickes' distress, but the hunt for Dr.
Von Seyss was quite a desperate situation in itself, and far too many lives depended upon his arrest.

"I am quite sympathetic to your situation, Mr. and Mrs. Harwicke," Basil explained. "However, as you
are surely aware, a most dangerous fellow is prowling the streets of the East End---and I am searching
for him at the present time. It is most urgent that he be captured as soon as possible."

Bess gasped and paled. "The East End??? Oh, dear Lord...and she's gone there!" she cried.

"Madam?" inquired Basil, his eyebrows raised curiously. But the wheels of deductive reasoning were
already turning in his mind, suggesting that both his own search and the Harwickes' might parallel each
other somehow.

"The East End, you say?" repeated John, equally alarmed. "The mother left a note near the young one,
sayin' she'd gone to the East End t'look for little Henry's father. Heartless bloke hadn't even married her,
an' treated her right sorry b'sides..."

"Poor girl," Dawson muttered sadly, while Mrs. Judson shook her head. Basil simply looked slightly
stern and thoughtful as Bess Harwicke gave him the note.

"It's written in German," she admitted. "Mary tells us you know many languages, Mr. Basil; though
John and I know German as well. Anna---that's her name---she's from Austria, and so is the baby's
father..."

Basil's pipe hit the floor.

"German? Austria???" he blurted excitedly, snatching the note and poring over it with fiercely eager
eyes. Both the Harwickes and Mrs. Judson watched him with confusion; Dawson, however, with
interest and satisfaction---for he saw in Basil's face that the game would not be afoot much longer...

~~~~~~~~~~~

"No money on yeh, eh? Wal, lassie, oi'll give yeh a bed, ef ye'll 'elp serve me cust'mers."

The small, fair-haired young woman with the Germanic accent stared in both confusion and
anxiety---not sure of whether "serve" held honourable intentions.

"Ah...vat you mean, 'zerve'?" she asked nervously. "I...vould not be bad voman, to do bad t'ings vit'
der men..."

The middle-aged woman who ran the public house frowned at the suggestion. "Wot're yeh syin,
missy? This ain't no bloody 'orehouse! Oi just want yer bringin' th' grub---th' food, yeh know? An'
cleanin' up th' plyce..."

The girl nodded, quite relieved. "I can do zat...danke schön!"

The pub owner, actually a friendly woman, smiled kindly. " 'at's a good gel. C'mon, oi'll show ye
yeer room. An' boi th' wy, m'name's Lizzy. Wot's yeer's, lil' one?"

Her new employee picked up the bundle holding her few possessions and smiled back.

"Anna," she replied. "Anna Heinstoffer..."

End Part X